Free, New and Secret on Bree Street

17 Things to (re)discover on one of Cape Town most-visited streets

Did you know you can get biometrically tested for the perfect running shoe on Bree Street? Or kit out a whole football team with new jerseys for under R2k? Learn to salsa or do a week’s yoga – gratis. And, of course, there are loads of restaurants and hidden food spots.

FREE YOGA LESSONSUnraveled Yoga – tucked between La Parada and Burger & Lobster on Bree – wants you to try out their studio. If you live in Cape Town and have never had a yoga session with them before, they’ll give you a week’s free lessons so you can see what it’s all about.

MIDWEEK WINE TASTINGDid you hear that charismatic chef Matt Manning now has his own place on Bree Street? Try it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday night when they have free wine tastings, 6–7pm. Each tasting is hosted by a different wine farm and winemaker, so it’s something even newbies and aficionados can enjoy together. Find it at Grub & Vine wine nights.

NEXT-LEVEL RUNNINGThis is not your average shoe store. At RUN, you get yourself biometrically tested first. Full on. You step on a treadmill and they film, measure and feed your data into an app that analyses everything in minute detail (takes about 45 minutes). All so that you get the absolute best shoe for your foot, body and budget. It’s obviously known among pro-runners, trainers and specialists – even the staff here are runners who regularly appear on podiums. But anyone can walk in and have themselves biometrically tested for the perfect running shoe. It’s either free with your shoe purchase or just the test is R250.

FREE SALSA LESSONS + CUBAN PARTIESEvery Friday is Cuban Night at Rum Tum Tum. And that means dancing, free salsa classes, cocktails and you get in for free. There are also some First Thursdays celebrations. Or just come in and let your hair down to live DJs every Friday night.

Rum Tum Tum | 136 Bree Street | +27(0)21 510 7970

R38 BREAKFAST + COFFEE FROM 6AMHave you seen the place with the massive vaulted ceilings covered in local and African art for sale – from David Thorpe to colourful Zimbabwean artworks? It also sells coconut-based vegan wraps, one-pan breakfasts, dairy-free smoothies and good coffee. Oh, and it’s open from 6am already. That’s the RED! The Gallery at the Portside building, where you kind of feel like you’re dining inside a painting. Check out the breakfast special: two pieces of toast with scrambled eggs and a free Americano for just R38.

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF CREAM CHEESEIf you see a slice of the coconut and cream cheesecake in the window of this cute, boxed-sized cafe, grab it because it’s not there every day. They make everything fresh, daily, at The General Store, with only three small tables inside. There are nice deli-style foods and speciality Mediterranean lamb and chicken dishes for lunch, or three portions of your choice of salad for R55 (R80 if you want a bigger serving to share).

BRAND-NEW: THE BARBER WITH AN ATM INSIDEFinally, you can get a haircut, beard trim and (very soon) a tattoo all at the same place. While you’re there, you may as well grab some beard oil and hair wax, too. And there’s an ATM inside the shop. Downtown Barbers opened in March 2019, and their resident tattoo artist will start inking from 1 May 2019. Read more about Downtown Barbers.

BILTONG, BURRITOS AND BURGER SUSHIEver had banting sushi? What about a sushi doughnut, sushi burger or sushi pizza? Otherwise, go for something with SA flavour: biltong wrapped in rice and seaweed. Active Sushi is sunlit and inviting, with easy cafe-style seating on the sidewalk or dinner tables inside (check out the wood-clad walls and amazing decor). Waiting for your food’s fun too; there are colourful pens on every table for you to draw and scribble all you want on their paper table cloths.

A HIDDEN SOCCER GEMSoccer shorts for R20. Big brand boots and shoes from R200. Replica team jerseys at a fraction of the price. Mike’s Sports has been making football gear in Bree Street (ask for a factory tour) since 1949. And they’re extremely well known in soccer circles (clubs around SA and Namibia and Lesotho buy from here). But did you know that you can just walk in and get excellent deals on their home brand Strada (supplier to the Cape Town 10s) and big brands from Adidas and Nike to New Balance?Plus: Spot the preserved section of the vintage building’s original stone foundation inside the showroom floor.

SHISA NYAMA AT VIXIFirst, if you haven’t been to VIXI on the corner of Bree and Strand, go now and thank us later. Its interior alone is a work of art – repurposed everything, from parquet floor bars to barbershop flooring and gorgeous antique dining tables. And the food’s made fresh on-site. We like that you can select your cut from the meat locker and have your meal made shisa nyama-style on coals with a trio of speciality meat sauces. Plus so much more at VIXI Social House.

SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES TO GODiscover a hole-in-the-wall little eatery with pantry shelves stocked with healthy ingredients. Pick yours and watch them concoct your raw cold-pressed juice or superfood smoothie. Elixir is an organic smoothie and juice bar and cafe, and there are also speciality teas, coffee and delicious vegan curry rotis and other snacks.

A HIDDEN BAR BEHIND THE SECRET DOORHave you discovered it yet? There’s an unassuming “secret” door behind the reception at Jarryds CBD cafe on Bree Street. If you go through it and turn left to go down the corridor, you’ll walk into a little palm-lined oasis. Fun, colourful, bright and open with a large balcony peeking out through the lush treetops onto Bree Street, SoCal is a great spot to grab cocktails on the weekend or on First Thursdays.

SoCal | 75 Church Street | +27(0) 74 168 5324

TRY JASON’S DOUGHSSANTJason Bakery needs no introduction. But did you know they create a new doughssant (croissant/doughnut mix) every week? Like the chocolate profiterole doughssant filled with a vanilla diplomat cream and dipped in melted white chocolate and dark chocolate mirror glaze topped with chocolate and vanilla profiterole.

SWEETBREADS AND DEVILLED CHICKENTime for something very different. Had lamb sweetbreads before? It’s a dish made from the thymus gland (from the throat) and the pancreas gland (from the heart or stomach) of lamb, served with peas and bacon. And it’s said to be delicious. Just like the baked pig head with hen’s egg. Or maybe devilled chicken hearts with potato is more your speed. Try these and loads of other farm-to-fork-style food at nose-to-tail eatery La Tête.

La Tête | 17 Bree Street | +27 (0)21 418 1299

SHORT RIB, TALL COFFEEYou probably already know about Origin Coffee Roasting and all they offer, but you might not know that they just added a delicious-sounding new option: the short rib croque monsieur. Pop in for your usual coffee, but give their new dish a try and see what you think.

THE EASIEST TREE TO CLIMB IN CAPE TOWN?So they say, anyway. There’s a tree opposite the road from the Cape Heritage Hotel (90 Bree Street) – you’ll know it when you see it. And, rumour is, it’s pretty easy to walk upright for most of the way up the tree. Hmm, makes for a pretty good Bree Street photo op anyway …

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